Texas A&M Football: Latest Commitment Further Proves the Draw of the SEC

First-year Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin has been a recruiting machine since arriving in College Station.

The Aggies' Class of 2013 is almost full already, and is ranked in the top 10 by all major recruiting services.

Being a member of the SEC certainly helps.

Rob Zimmerman, a 6'3", 320-pound defensive tackle from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College committed to the Aggies on Wednesday, and will join the team for the 2013 season.

Zimmerman told ESPN.com's (Insider) Damon Sayles that Texas A&M being a part of the SEC was a big part of his decision.

“It’s the SEC," Zimmerman said. "It’s the best football.”

This comes on the heels of Manvel, Texas wide receiver Kyrion Parker flipping from LSU to the in-state Aggies. When Parker flipped, he told 247Sports.com's Taylor Hamm that the combination of Sumlin's system and playing against SEC competition was a big factor.

"I also really wanted to play in the SEC," Parker said, "because that’s where the best competition is and that’s where you’re going to get better at.”

Texas A&M probably doesn't scare many SEC teams now, but the fact that being in the SEC is already having an impact on the recruiting trail bodes well for the future.

My colleague Michael Felder and I debated how much of an impact A&M's presence in the SEC will have in regard to the battle with Texas in May, and the same argument applies to traditional SEC schools as well.

Arkansas' current roster features 22 players from the state of Texas, including running back Knile Davis, wide receiver Cobi Hamilton, cornerback Tevin Mitchel, offensive lineman Travis Swanson and linebacker Alonzo Highsmith.

LSU's roster is littered with 13 players from Texas, including wide receive Russell Shepard and safety Craig Loston.

That's not to say that Arkansas and LSU will suffer as a result of A&M's presence in the SEC. Those two programs will still get their fair share of players, including many from the state of Texas.

But as A&M establishes itself as an SEC program with prospects in the state of Texas, its impact on other FBS programs within the state, as well as SEC programs that get recruits from Texas, will be felt.

We are already seeing it happen.

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